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Gemma Harrison from all-female motorcyle group VC London talks bikes

We chat to Gemma Harrison from VC London about the UK motorbike scene.

More and more females are jumping on two-wheels, and why the hell not?! We talk to female motorcycle group VC London to see what they love about the UK motorbike scene.

Danni Bagnall: So, just what is VC London all about?

Gemma Harrison: We started out as three friends (me, Namin Cho and Mai Storni) who were into motorcycles, or just getting into them. I had been riding a few years already and Namin had just started to learn when we met while working together. We then met Mai at a motorcycle party at a friend’s workshop and she mentioned she wanted to start riding, so we taught her. VC isn’t a gang or a club or whatever, it started as an Instagram account just to document us learning about bikes and going on road trips. Now it’s just a name and a way of putting everything we do, including our events (VCC) and our workshop (based in East London etc.), under one umbrella.

Image: Alex Grant

DB: We’d love to know what bikes you have.

GH: I have a 1966 Triumph 5ta hardtail bobber (built by Steve Marshall), a Triumph Thrust, a custom SR125 brat sort of bike, and a CRF250, which I share with my other half. Namin has a Kawasaki W650 hardtail chopper (built by Redmax), and Mai has a custom Honda CG125 and a stock XS650, which is in the process of being chopped as we speak.

DB: Is it only two wheels for you guys, then?

GH: Weirdly enough, the three of us only have motorcycle licences and none of us drive a car. Highly impractical, but a lot of fun.

Image: Vivianna Gomez Morales

DB: What’re your thoughts on the UK motorbike scene and being female in that scene?

GH: I don’t think there’s a difference between being a female or a male that’s into motorcycles. We’ve never really come across much discrimination and have always been treated pretty much the same as everyone else. It’s great that more women are trying it out now, though. I think there is a new wave of women wanting to get into it and know more about the machines that they’re riding. With our Camp VC event this year we are hoping to encourage and support the scene by offering on-site beginners’ lessons. It’s also a great way to get to meet other women who are already riding, from people who have just started, to ladies that have been riding years and on all different types of bikes. We’ve met some incredible people just through riding our bikes; from bike builders who have been building choppers for years, to people riding and racing flat track. Generally, people in the bike world are really supportive and respectful of one another. You get a few haters every now and then, but you can’t please everyone all the time.

Image: Alex Grant

DB: What motorbike shows are the best to go to, if you’re a female into it or looking to get into it?

GH: In the UK, Dirtquake is a great weekend. We’re doing a lot more European trips this year too, so Wheels and Waves and Flanders Chopper Bash are on the list! Babes ride out in the US is always amazing, too. Definitely recommend that to any women who ride. It’s a blast!

Image: Vivianna Gomez Morales

DB: Any future plans?

GH: Our Camp VC event in the Brecon Beacons from August 4-6. There’ll be camping at a 16th century hill-top farm site, ride outs around the national park, competitions for the best bike, moto games, live entertainment and bar etc., beginner’s lessons and information for non-riders who’re looking to get on two wheels. There’s loads going on – there’s even a skate ramp, with our friends from Nefarious giving lessons. We’ve also just launched our women’s line of VCC clothing. We’ve got pieces for both on and off the bike, from moto jerseys with custom printed graphics and initials to 100% DuPont Kevlar lined bomber jackets. All made in the UK.

We’ve always said as soon “as doing the VC isn’t fun anymore, it’s gone”, but for now were having too much of an amazing time!

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